- 19 minutes 36 secondsWhat’s the point of data centres?
On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss examines Australia’s artificial intelligence boom and the political fight over who reaps the rewards.
This episode was recorded on Friday 4 September.
More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now.
Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble.
Read more on The Point.
Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss
Producer: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang
Show notes:
Climate Integrity Summit 2026 livestream tickets
Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP | Bernie Fraser Oration 2026 tickets
Six weeks after Albanese pledged renewable-powered data centres, he’s already made an exception by Tegan George, The Point (August 2026)
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions
We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14 September 2026, 4:53 am - 17 minutes 28 secondsWhat’s the point of the GST?
On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explains the goods and services tax. The GST was supposed to grow over time, so that state and territory governments would have a reliable income source to help them fund the important services they provide long into the future. Richard looks into whether it is actually working as intended.
Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute //@richarddenniss
Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang
Climate Integrity Summit 2026 livestream tickets.
Show notes:
GST Shortfall | The Australia Institute
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions
We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes [email protected]. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
7 September 2026, 2:53 am - 15 minutes 1 secondWhat's the point of the Productivity Commission?
The Productivity Commission is a government-funded economic think tank that’s meant to give independent advice about how to make the Australian economy work better. On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss discusses whether it is fit for purpose.
Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute //@richarddenniss
Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang
Climate Integrity Summit 2026 livestream tickets.
Order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press.
Show notes:
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions
We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31 August 2026, 4:47 am - 25 minutes 41 secondsWhat’s the point of the crossbench?
On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explains how the crossbench works and the politics of deal-making in federal parliament.
This episode was recorded on Friday 21 August.
More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press, is available now.
Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble.
Read more on The Point.
Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss
Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang
Show notes:
Climate Integrity Summit 2026, the Australia Institute
National Gambling Toll, the Australia Institute
The case for a gas export tax, explained by Richard Denniss, The Point (March 2026)
There is no such thing as a safe seat | Fact sheet, the Australia Institute (October 2024)
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions
We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24 August 2026, 2:53 am - 17 minutes 36 secondsWhat’s the point of gambling reform?
On this episode of What's the Point?, Richard Denniss explains the lack of strong gambling reform, and why gambling losses continue to climb despite widespread calls for change.
Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss
Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang
Climate Integrity Summit 2026 tickets.
Order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press.
Show notes:
National Gambling Toll
Online wagering companies and company tax in Australia
Theme music: Blue Dot SessionsWe’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17 August 2026, 3:03 am - 15 minutes 47 secondsWhat’s the point of EVs?
On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explains why electric vehicles have surged in popularity, and why EVs should play a central role in energy security.
Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss
Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang
Climate Integrity Summit 2026 tickets.
Order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press.
Show notes: https://thepoint.com.au/opinions/260411-an-economists-advice-on-why-ev-range-anxiety-is-overrated
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions
We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10 August 2026, 3:41 am - 15 minutes 43 secondsWhat's the point of the Reserve Bank of Australia?
On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explains the purpose of the Reserve Bank of Australia and whether it's fulfilling that role.
Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss
Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang
Climate Integrity Summit 2026 tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/sydney-climate-integrity-summit-2026?c=website
Pre-order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble.
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions
We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
3 August 2026, 5:37 am - 16 minutes 15 secondsWhat’s the point of talking about nuclear energy?
On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss explains the “fake fight” over nuclear power in Australia and how the gas industry benefits from the nuclear distraction.
This episode was recorded on Friday 17 July.
Pre-order More Fool Me: How the gas industry tricked Australia by Richard Denniss, the latest Vantage Point essay from Australia Institute Press. Use the code ‘FOOLME’ on a four-edition Vantage Point subscription to receive a free copy of Richard’s book, Econobabble.
Read more on The Point.
Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss
Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang
Climate Integrity Summit 2026, the Australia Institute
Fake fight over nuclear a distraction from real climate issues, the Australia Institute (February 2025)
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions
We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27 July 2026, 3:27 am - 17 minutes 23 secondsWhat's the point of offsets?
On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss discusses how the Federal Government’s new carbon credits method for ‘protecting’ native forests will allow fossil fuel companies to greenwash their climate pollution and expand coal and gas production.
This episode was recorded on Friday 10 July.
Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss
Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang
Climate Integrity Summit 2026 tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/sydney-climate-integrity-summit-2026?c=website
The Point: https://thepoint.com.au/
Support What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20 July 2026, 3:00 am - 21 minutes 33 secondsWhat's the point of a gas exports tax?
On this episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss discusses how global gas industry has pulled off the greatest con in Australia’s history, and why Australians are living with the consequences. He spells out the simple steps we need to take to fix it.
This episode was recorded on Friday 10 July.
Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss
Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang
Plebiscite petition: https://gas-plebiscite.australiainstitute.org.au/
More Fool Me (Vantage Point Issue 6) pre-order: https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/more-fool-me-vantage-point-issue-6
Climate Integrity Summit 2026 tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/sydney-climate-integrity-summit-2026?c=website
The Point: https://thepoint.com.au/Support What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13 July 2026, 2:06 am - 15 minutes 56 secondsWhat’s the point of housing reform?
On the second episode of What’s the Point?, Richard Denniss discusses the government’s long-overdue changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax and the ongoing media hysteria around Australia’s housing market.
This episode was recorded on Friday 3 July.
Host: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss
Host: Anna Chang, Managing Editor, The Point // @annachang
Show notes:
The Wrap: After a decades-long fight, housing tax reform becomes reality by Matt Grudnoff, The Point (July 2026)
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions
We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]. Subscribe to What’s the Point? with Richard Denniss on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.
Support What's the Point? & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/4bkeiGc
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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